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Abstract

Background: Academic ophthalmology plays a critical role in advancing eye care and training the next generation of ophthalmologists. However, comprehensive data on the U.S. academic ophthalmology workforce remains limited. Existing databases focus on individual subspecialties or specific demographics, without capturing a national, integrated perspective.

Purpose: To develop and analyze the U.S. Academic Ophthalmology Faculty Database (US-AOFD), a comprehensive, national resource that characterizes the demographic composition, academic ranks, leadership roles, and research productivity of ophthalmology faculty at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–accredited programs in the United States.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study compiled data for 4,028 faculty members from publicly available institutional websites for 126 ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency programs. Variables collected included demographics, academic rank, fellowship training, leadership roles (department chair, division director or section chief, fellowship director, program director, and student education director), and research productivity (H-index, publication count, annual publication rate [APR]). Institutional variables included program size, NIH funding, and geographic region. Research metrics were retrieved from Scopus. Descriptive statistics were used, and regional comparisons were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests.

Results: Of the 4,028 faculty included, 37.3% were female, and 96.0% held an MD degree. The median years since residency graduation was 19 (IQR, 11-32). Fellowship training was common (82.5%), with retina (21.6%), cornea (15.8%), and glaucoma (14.0%) being the most frequent. Academic rank distribution showed 43.5% assistant, 24.9% associate, and 31.6% full professors. Full professors had the highest median H-index (27; IQR, 15-43) and publication count (92; IQR, 41-187), compared with assistant professors (H-index, 5; publications, 11). Leadership was common (33.8%), with department chairs having the longest time since graduation (33 years) and highest research productivity. Regional analysis showed the West had the highest research productivity (H-index, 12; APR, 2.4), whereas the Northeast had the lowest.

Conclusion: The US-AOFD offers the most comprehensive assessment to date of academic ophthalmology faculty in the United States. It reveals significant differences in research productivity and faculty composition by academic rank, subspecialty, and geography. This database provides a foundational framework for future investigations into workforce development, academic promotion, and equity in academic ophthalmology.

Received Date

11/05/2025

Revised Date

11/07/2025

Accepted Date

06/08/2025

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